Interactive Precision Ball Throwing Apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes programs, devices and methods for a ball throwing machine that is able to consistently throw balls to the same preset position at the moment a user demands it by manually pressing a button, by user defined time interval, or by trigger events using sensing technologies. The user demands are sent and received by a wired or wireless connection. The present invention includes sensing method(s) to detect a user&#39;s motion and/or voice command, and throw balls to the preset position in a timely manner—at exactly the moment when the command is received, or with a pre-programmed delay. The trigger events includes a player&#39;s position, moving speed, and/or body position.

The present application claims priority to the earlier filed provisionalapplication having Ser. No. 62/246,086, and hereby incorporates subjectmatter of the provisional application in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of sports training equipment,specifically equipment for delivering balls to ball players for trainingpurposes.

Description of the Related Art

Many current ball throwing apparatuses for sports training use one ortwo rotating wheels pressing on the ball, and the friction forceaccelerates and throws the ball; other ball throwing apparatus usecompressed gas to accelerate and throw the ball out through a tubepneumatically; other ball throwing apparatuses use a spring loadedmoving object to hit balls out by direct impact.

SUMMARY

This invention provides a way to directly throw a subject such as aball, with neither largely deforming the subject by compression tocreate friction, nor by applying impact on the ball to transfermomentum. The invented method uses a linear solenoid as the actuator; itdoes not require the mechanism to accumulate and store mechanical energybefore it starts transfer energy to the ball being thrown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A ball throwing apparatus (10) comprises: a linear solenoid assembly(1), a lever bar (2), which is connected by a hinge (3) at one end tothe base plate (4) and fixed with the ball cup (8) on the other end, alink (5) connecting the plunger (7) of solenoid assembly (1) and thelever bar (2). The linear motion of the plunger (7) uses the linkapparatus (5) to make the lever bar (2) rotate around hinge (3) to throwthe ball; the solenoid assembly (1) is fixed on the base plate (4)through mounting plates (9), and the hinge (3) is also fixed on the baseplate (4)

The ball throwing apparatus (10) also comprises: a single track (12) inone embodiment or a double track (11) in another embodiment, for storingand feeding balls; a battery pack (13); a cover case (14); a controlpanel for a user to turn on/off the circuit and adjust electroniccontrol settings.

FIG. 1 shows the internal ball throwing mechanism. The ball (6) isloaded on the ball cup (8), which is called the ready position forthrowing action, and the plunger (7) of solenoid assembly (1) is atextended position with partially outside the coil (15) of solenoid (1),which is ready to be pulled up by a magnetic force when the coil (15) isenergized

FIG. 2 shows the internal ball throwing mechanism at the end of ballthrowing action—the plunger (7) of solenoid assembly (1) is pulled intothe solenoid by the magnetic force generated by the activated coil (15)of the solenoid assembly (1), the plunger (7) pulls the lever (2) upthrough the link (5). The ball (6) is accelerated upward and ready toleave the ball cup (8)

FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment with a single track (12) for ballfeeding and storage; the balls are lined up on the track, and come downinto the ball cup (8) one by one driven by gravity.

FIG. 4 shows the second embodiment of the invention which has doubletracks for ball storage and feeding. A ball storage area (17) isconnected to double tracks (11) through the splitting area (16), wherethe balls are then lined up on either track, and roll down into theleveled area (18) with a recess (19), which is called the waitingposition for the balls. The recess (19) helps to keep the ball beingmaintained and centered at the leveled area (18). Balls come down to theleveled area (18) one by one driven by gravity, then will be driven ontothe cup (8) by the ball selection bar (20).

FIG. 5 shows the ball selection and handling mechanism for the secondembodiment of the invention. The ball selection bar (20) has threefunctions: 1. act as a gate for both tracks which ensures in eachoperation, the ball selection bar (20) allows only one ball on one ofthe two tracks to roll into the leveled area (18) and stay in its recess(19), and prevent the ball on the other track from rolling into theleveled area (18); 2. Act as a track selector that goes back and forthto open and close each of the two tracks alternatively; 3. Act as anactuator to push the ball in leveled area (18) out of recess (19) intothe cup (8) for throwing readiness.

FIG. 6 shows the drive mechanism of the ball selection and handlingmechanism with the ball selection bar (20). This said mechanismcomprises a single spring loaded solenoid (21), a link apparatus (22), arotation apparatus (23) with a fix pin (25), and a cam-followermechanism comprises the fix pin (25) as the cam and the slot (24) onball selection bar as the follower. The ball selection bar (20) issupported by two leaf springs (26) which provide support with one degreeof freedom. When the solenoid is energized, the spring loaded plungerwill retract into the solenoid, which compresses the spring and pullsthe link apparatus (22) therefore spin the rotation apparatus (23) withthe fixed pin (25), which therefore move with the slot (24), pushing theball selection bar (20) moving from one side to another. When thesolenoid plunger reaches the bottom of the solenoid, the electric poweris cut off, the loaded spring start pushes the plunger out of thesolenoid, and the momentum of the rotation apparatus (23) keeps themotion toward the other side, with the loaded spring pushing from behinduntil the ball selection bar reaches the side limit of the oppositeside. Each time the solenoid (21) operates, the ball selection bar (20)with move from one side to another alternatively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Background

The present ball throwing apparatuses focus on providing simulation ofthe ball traveling trajectory, speed, direction, and position as in areal ball game. Due to the current ball throwing apparatus's lack ofdetectable hint of action, a user can only judge the timing and positionof the ball after the ball is thrown out. Therefore, the user'spreparation can only start after the ball is thrown out. However, thisinvention focuses on throwing the ball in a consistent and predictablemanner with preparation signals to the user, then precisely controllingwhen and where the ball will be thrown. By giving users early signalsand full control of the timing of the throwing, it is made possible forplayer to start preparation actions before the ball is thrown. Theprecision of ball delivery position is achieved by making the ballserving position independent to ball size, material, surface finish, andinflation pressure or hardness.

Objects and Advantages

The principal object of the invention is to provide a ball throwingapparatus that throws balls to the user with early signals and in aconsistent and predictable way. Unlike with existing state of art, theball in the invented apparatus is held and thrown in its free formwithout being deformed by compression or impact, such as being squeezedthrough a narrow gap between two spinning wheels or being hit by a rigidbar; therefore, the ball size, elasticity, surface condition and shapeof the ball will not affect the ball launching velocity, height, angle,and distance; balls in different size, shape and firmness, such as butnot limited to: different age group tennis balls, regular tennis balls,waffle balls, foam balls, rigid balls, or even objects in none-circularshape can be launched by this apparatus with consistency.

Another object of the invention is the ball throwing apparatus can serveballs with accurately controlled timing. This is achieved by twoimprovements from the current state of arts: 1. The ball throwingapparatus is always standing by at ready position with the ball stayingloaded, no ball feeding process is needed for the start of throwingaction. This is unlike in current state of art, for example, in a doublewheel ball machine, the ball cannot stay steady in between the twospinning wheels, instead, when state the ball throwing, a ball has to befed into the gap between two spinning wheels, which is an extra stepthat takes time, and the variation of feed time makes the timinginaccurate; 2. The invented ball throwing apparatus always has readilyavailable energy to start the throwing action. Unlike in existing stateof art, this invention does not have a process to accumulate and storemechanical energy before transferring the energy to the thrown subject.For example, some current states of art use electric motor(s) toaccelerate the spinning wheel(s) to needed speed, others wind coilspring to needed preload. However, in this invention, the solenoid isalways ready to be activated by electrical power. For above reasons,with this invention, the subject throwing interval or timing can beprecisely controlled with no compromises.

Another object of the invention is to provide ball throwing apparatusesthat is not affected by the size, shape, material, and finish of theobject it's throwing. The ball throwing apparatus is rest a readyposition with the ball staying loaded in its free form, and the ball isthrown out with little compression, friction, and impact. Because theball is held and thrown by a cup, the size and shape are also nonefactors to the velocity, height, angle, and distance of the throwing.

Another object of the invention is to provide ball throwing apparatusesthat can interact with the user. The capability of throwing balls withaccurate timing makes it possible to use remote controls or sensingdevices to trigger the throwing action without noticeable delay. Theremote control provides a way for the user to self-feed or for anotherindividual such as a coach to feed a student on command. At what time tothrow out a ball is no longer determined by the ball throwingapparatus's interval setup or the readiness of the ball throwingapparatus but by the command of the user; the sensing devices provide away for users to interact with the ball throwing apparatus with othercommands such as but not limited to: voices, body motions or bodypositions.

An object of the second embodiment is to use a track selection mechanismto manage two tracks to feed into one ball throwing mechanism. Thisobject is achieved by a single ball selection bar (20). The bar (20) isdriven by a single spring loaded solenoid. The ball selection bar (20)has three functions: 1. act as a gate for both tracks which ensures ineach operation, the ball selection bar (20) allows only one ball on oneof the two tracks to roll into the leveled area (18) and stay in itsrecess (19), and prevent the ball on the other track from rolling intoits leveled area (18); 2. Act as a track selector that does back andforth to open and close each of the two tracks alternatively; 3. Act asan actuator to push the ball in leveled area (18) out of the recess (19)into the cup (8) for throwing readiness.

1. A ball throwing apparatus comprises essentially of a ball deliveryunit with a single solenoid actuator. The pulling action of the saidsolenoid activates a lever system which is used to magnify the solenoiddisplacement and speed; the said lever system swings in a vertical planeand throws the ball.
 2. The said ball throwing apparatus also comprisesball storage area and feeding mechanism. For the second embodiment, thesaid ball storage area comprises a ball dump-in area which also servesas a ball container. The said ball dump-in area is broad enough to holdat least 2 columns and two rows of balls. The said ball dump-in area isfor users to dump balls instead of loading balls to the railsindividually. The said ball dump-in area has a constant or increasingwidth along the ball feeding direction in order to avoid jamming, and itconnects to a splitting area which leads to the two single-row balltracks.
 3. The second embodiment of said ball throwing apparatuscomprises of two tracks that both store and transfer balls. The saidembodiment has a track selection and ball loading mechanism that isdesigned for alternating between tracks so balls on only one of the twotracks are allowed to come toward the end of track by their own gravityat each feeding operation. The said track selection and ball loadingmechanism comprises a single solenoid actuator and a ball selection bar.At each time of electrical activating the said solenoid actuator willmove the ball selection bar from current side to the other side andstays there until next activation. By switching side alternatively, theball selection bar achieves three functions:
 1. load one ball from thecurrent side waiting position of one track onto the ready position; 2.prevent other balls on the same track rolling into the waiting position;3. allow one ball from the other track rolling into the waitingposition. Therefore, at each time of the electrical activation the saidsolenoid loads one ball from the current track on to the ready position,and switch the current track to the other track.
 4. The said ballthrowing apparatus also has a ball delivery control system which isessentially a micro controller to control the main drive solenoid andthe ball feeding mechanism. The said control system also gives audio andvisual signals to the user before the ball is thrown; The said controlsystem also receives and responds to user command such as but not limitto: pressing a button on a remote control connected to the controlsystem with a wire or wirelessly. The said control system also has userinterface allows users to set ball throwing parameters such as height,distance, interval, and delay constant after the throwing command. Thesaid control system can also receive signals from sensors. The saidcontrol system can be set in auto mode, manual mode, or interactivemode. In the auto mode, the ball throwing apparatus will serve balls ata preset interval, with accuracy within a few milliseconds; in themanual mode, the ball throwing apparatus will serve a ball upon the userpressing a wired or wireless remote control button, or by a voicecommand; in the interactive mode, the ball throwing apparatus will usesensor(s) to detect a user's body motion and/or position to determine ifand when the ball should be thrown for the user. The sensors used forinteractive mode can be but not limited to: light sensing devices;proximity sensors with infrared, ultraviolet, and/or visible lightdetection, ultrasonic object and distance sensors, and mechanicalswitches. The sensors can be connected to the control system either bywire or in a wireless way. The remote control can be either held by theuser, put on any user's finger as a ring, put on any user's wrist as awrist band, or attached to other sports equipment such as but notlimited to a racquet or a bat.
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